Cantilevered seating means

ABSTRACT

A seat frame having a seating web or sling attached thereto is mounted on a substantially horizontal base beam in an elevated position above the base beam and extends forwardly therefrom. In a cantilevered seating system comprising a plurality of seat frames cantilevered forwardly from the base beam, the seat frames can be arranged in a single row or in a double row.

0 United States Patent 1 91 1111 3,884,524

Eberle 1 May 20, 1975 CANTILEVERED SEATING MEANS 2,897,880 8/1959Panicci 297/446 3,194,601 7 1965 H 297 248 [75] Inventor: Gunter F.Eberle, Dallas, Tex. 3,375,038 351968 gl z n 2971445 3: [73] Assignee:The Vecta Group, lnc., Dallas, Tex. 314711200 0/1969 Momso 297/457 X3,494,662 2/1970 Schaefer 297/232 [22] Med: 1974 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS MP 437,527 776,948 2/1935 France 297/295 52 US. Cl.297/160; 297/244; 297/232; Primary Examiner-Francis Zugel 297/457 5111111.0. A47c 1/12 [571 ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search 297/232, 446, 445,457, A Seat frame having a seating web or sling attached 297/248,160-162, 294, 295, 244, 441, 287; thereto is mounted on a substantiallyhorizontal base 136/45 59, 60 beam in an elevated position above thebase beam and extends forwardly therefrom. In a cantilevered seating[56] References Cited system comprising a plurality of seat framescantilev- UNITED STATES PATENTS ered forwardly from the base beam, theseat frames 2 509 451 5/1950 Reinholz 297/287 can be arranged in asingle row or in a dmble 2,755,841 7/1956 Reinholz 297/446 X 5 Claims, 6Drawing Figures PATENEEDHAYZQIQYE 3,884,524.

SHEET 10? 2 CANTILEVERED SEATING MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates to public seating means. More particularly, thisinvention relates to seating units cantilevered forwardly from a singlesubstantially horizontal base beam.

Floor supports for chairs and similar seating units in public placestake up a considerable amount of floor area and interfere with the useof cleaning devices on the floor, thereby increasing labor costs.Moreover, public seating is subject to severe use and occasional abusewhich necessitates expensive repair and/or replacement.

It is an object of this invention to minimize the aforementioneddrawbacks and to provide seating units which take up a minimum of floorspace for support.

Another object of this invention is to provide a seating system whereinindividual modules or parts thereof can be readily replaced whennecessary and without materially disturbing the remainder of the system.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a seating systemhaving accessory tables or the like interspersed between seating modulesor units.

Still further objects of this invention will present themselves to theskilled artisan upon reference to the ensuing specification, thedrawings and the claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention contemplates a forwardlycantilevered seating system providing a substantially horizontal basebeam means supported on transverse floor runners or anchored to thefloor and one or more seating units mounted on and extending away fromthe base beam means. Each cantilevered seating unit includes a seatframe above and extending away from the base beam means and comprises anelevated central bight portion defining seat back and arm supports and apair of legs joined to the bight portion and secured to the base beammeans. A seating web means is suspended from the bight portion of theseat frame.

Preferably, each cantilevered seating unit is mounted on the base beammeans utilizing a pair of elongated mounting adapter means each having aflat side and an opposed concave side. Said adapter means is situatedbetween end portions of the legs and the base beam means. The endportion of each leg is received in the concavity of the adapter means,and the flat side of the adapter means is contiguous with a flat surfaceof the base beam means. The end portion of each leg, and the adaptermeans, are then secured to the base beam means by suitable attachmentmeans such as screws, bolts, or the like. When the seat frame istubular, a solid, elongated connector insert means havinglongitudinally-spaced threaded openings is situated within the endportion of each leg, and the seat frame is secured to the base beammeans using attachment means which pass from below the base'beam meansthrough holes in the base beam means, through holes in the adaptermeans, and through holes in the end portions of the legs, all insubstantial registry with the spaced openings in the connector insertmeans, and which attachment means threadedly engage the connector insertmeans in the spaced openings thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cantilevered seating system embodyingthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded fragmentary view of an embodiment of thisinvention with the seating web removed to show frame details;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a cantileveredseating system of this invention and provided with an ashtray-tablecombination;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing mounting details of theseat frame and an accessory table or the like;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing attachment of seatingweb to seat frame; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a seating web suitable for use withseating systems embodying the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, aplurality of seating modules or units such as units 10 and 11 arecantilevered from central bar 12 adjacent to each other. If desired, theseating units can also be cantilevered in a single row along one side ofbar 12.

Each seating unit, such as unit 11 for example, comprises tubular seatframe 13 attached to bar 12 using adapter means 14 and 15 as will beexplained in greater detail hereinbelow. Seating web or sling 16 isattached to seat frame 13.

The substantially horizontal base beam means comprises bar 12 providedwith a flat upper surface and elevated above floor level by means ofdownwardlydepending support members 17 and 18 attached to bar 12 andalso to floor runners l9 and 20 which extend transversely to thelongitudinal axis of main bar 12. If desired, support members 17 and 18can be omitted, in which event main bar 12 is the substantiallyhorizontal base beam means for the cantilevered seating units. For apermanent installation the substantially horizontal base beam means canbe bolted to suitable studs or the like embedded in the floor, therebyobviating the need for floor runners. Support members such as 17 and 18may or may not be needed in such a case depending on the size of thebase beam means and the seat frame configuration.

The mounting for seat units 10 and 11 on the base beam means is shown inFIG. 2. Tubular seat frame 21 extends away from main bar 12 andcomprises a central bight portion 29 defining seat back and armsupports, elevated relative to the base beam means, and joined todownwardly-depending legs 30 and 31 terminating in end portions 25 and26, respectively, which are provided with respective holes 43 and 78 inthe underside thereof. Central bight portion 29 is positioned above butnot necessarily over main bar 12 and projects rearwardly from legs 30and 31. Similarly, tubular seat frame 13 extends away from main bar 12on the opposite side from tubular seat frame 21 and comprises similarelevated central bight portion 32 and integral downwardly-depending legs33 and 34 which terminate in respective end portions 27 and 28 providedwith holes 44 and 79.

Adapters 22 and 23, situated across main bar 12, are provided with aflat underside which is contiguous with flat upper surface 24 of mainbar 12 and with a concave top side. End portions 25 and 27 are receivedwithin concavity 32 in adapter 22, and end portions 26 and 28 arereceived within concavity 36 within end portions and 27, and connectorinsert 38 is slidably received within end portions 26 and 28. Connectorinserts 37 and 38 are solid rods provided with longitudinallyspacedthreaded openings and serve to align the tubular frames and to anchorframes 13 and 21 to the substantially horizontal base beam. Connectorinserts 37 and 38 also provide a very effective means for affixingtubular seat frames 13 and 21 to the base beam means because theattachment means passing through the holes in end portions 25, 26, 27and 28 and engaging the longitudinally spaced threaded openings ininserts 37 and 38 secure inserts 37 and 38 within the respective endportions of seat frames 13 and 21, and pull the resulting assemblyagainst main bar 12, thereby forming a rigid connection therewith.Through holes in registry with the threaded openings of connector insert37 are provided in main bar 12, in adapter 22 and in the underside oftubular end portions 25 and 27. Legs and 33 extend upwardly and awayfrom the base beam and are rigidly secured to the base beam byattachment means such as screws 39 and 40, provided with suitable lockwashers 41 and 42, which screws pass through the aforementioned throughholes and engage the spaced, threaded openings in connector insert 37.Legs 31 and 34 are similarly positioned and are secured to the base beamin a similar manner with screws or the like which pass throughcorresponding holes in main bar 12, adapter 23 and the underside oftubular end portions 26 and 28, and which,engage the spaced threadedopenings in connector insert 38 in registry with the through holes.Central bight portion 29 is integrally joined with upwardly extendinglegs 30 and 31 and projects rearwardly therefrom. In a like manner,central bight portion 32 is integrally joined with legs 33 and 34 andprojects rearwardly therefrom. Support members, such as member 17, areattached to main bar 12 and elevate main bar 12 to above floor level,Floor runner 19 extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of mainbar 12 and provides lateral stability to the seating assembly so thatthe seating system does not tilt when a downwardly force is applied to aseating unit, i.e., when a seat is sat in. Main beam 12 conveniently canbe a steel tube of a rectangular cross-section and its end can be sealedwith a metal or plastic plug such as end plug 45.

An accessory means such as a table or the like can be interspersedbetween two adjacent seating units in the manner shown in FIGS. 3 and 4wherein adapters 46 and 47, receiving legs 48 and 49 of two adjacentseating units in their respective concavities 50 and 51, are providedwith a longitudinal chamfer or notch at the lower edges of outboardsides of the adapters, such as square notch 52 on outboard side 54 andsquare notch 53 on outboard side 55. Edges of accessory plate 56 arereceived within notches 52 and 53. Accessory plate 56, bearing tables 60and 62, provided with ashtrays 61 and 63, attafihed to support legs 58and 57 mounted on plate 56; is held in place between the adjacentseating units. The aforedescribed chamfers need not be square notch butcan be of any convenient configuration. For example, the outboard lowerlongitudinal edges of the adapters can be beveled and the accessoryplate edg @an be provided with a complementary bevel. As shoWfi in FIG.3, support leg 58 for most part is substaiiiially parallel todownwardly-depending leg 59 of seat iiiiit 66 and support leg 57 for themost part is substantially parallel to downwardly-depending leg 49 ofseat unit 67. Both seat unit 66 and seat unit 67 are mounted on main bar12 in the manner hereinabove described. Main bar 12 is elevated abovefloor level by downwardly-depending support member 64 and transversefloor runner 65.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, seating web 68 of typical seating unit 69having a tubular seat frame which includes central bight portion 70 anddownwardlydepending legs 71 and 72 preferably has a generally T- shapedconfiguration. Extremities 73, 74 and 75 are wrapped around the seatback and arm support portions of bight portion 70 at least about oneandonehalf turns, and are removably attached thereto by means of snapfasteners having mating parts, e.g., snaps 76 in extremities 73, 74 and75 and mating studs 77 pop riveted or otherwise secured to bight portion70, or other convenient fastening means. Wrapping of extremities 73, 74and 75 around bight portion 70 in the manner shown in FIG. 5 causessnaps 76 to be urged against studs 77 when a weight is carried by web68. Thus, when a person sits down on web 68, the weight of that personcauses the web extremities to be drawn more tightly about bight portion70 and the web extremities, in turn, exert force against the snaps. Forgreater comfort, a rigid seat panel can be inserted into the centralseat portion of web 68 so as to avoid squeezing the seat occupant.

If desired, seating webs such as web 68 can be made reversible byproviding a row of snaps on both sides of each extremity in the mannershown on extremity 75 in FIG. 6. Additionally, instead of snapfasteners, other attachment means can be utilized. For example, theseating webs can be secured by means of opposing strips of tape havingcomplemental parts which adhere to each other when pressed together,e.g., one tape being covered by a myriad of finelywoven nylonmonofilaments formed into permanent hooks and the other tape beingcovered with relatively soft nylon loops which are adapted to engage thehooks when the tapes are pressed together. One such tape can be affixedto the central bight portion of a seating frame in lieu of the studs andthe other complemental tape can be affixed to the seating web in lieu ofthe snaps. Also, strips of such complemental tapes can be affixed onboth sides of each extremity of the generally T-shaped seating webpositioned so that the complemental tapes engage each other as theseating web extremities are wrapped around the central bight portion inthe manner hereinabove described. The seating webs or slings can be madeof fabric, leather, PVC-plastics, polyurethane or similar materials, andcan be upholstered using foam rubber, polyurethane foam, or the like.

The main bar and the support members for the horizontal base beam can betubular steel and the floor runners can be steel plate. A wide varietyof finishes can be provided as desired. As an example, the main bar andthe support members can have a black enamel finish and the floor runnerscan be mirror chromed. Similarly, the tubular seat frame and the supportlegs for accessory tables or the like can be provided with a mirrorchrome finish. 7

As pointed out hereinabove, the attachment means can be screws, bolts,or similar fasteners. Alternatively, in instances where a subsequentdisassembly of the seating system is not contemplated, the attachmentmeans can also be welds which permanently secure the seating frames tothe substantially horizontal base beam.

The foregoing discussion and the accompanying drawings are intended asillustrative but are not to be taken as limiting. Still other variationsand rearrangements of parts are possible without departing from thespirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A forwardly cantilevered seating system which comprises asubstantially horizontal base beam means;

a plurality of transverse floor runners below said base beam means andconnected thereto;

a seat frame on said base beam means and comprising a pair of spacedlegs extending upwardly and away from said base beam means and a centralbight portion joining said upwardly extending legs, defining seat backand arm supports, and projecting rearwardly from said legs;

attachment means securing said legs to said base beam means; and

seating web means suspended from said central bight portion of said seatframe and together with said seat frame forming a seat;

said floor runners extending transversely from the longitudinal axis ofsaid base beam means for a distance sufficient to prevent tilting of theseating system when the seat is sat in,

said seating web means being of a generally T-shaped configuration, andwherein extremities of said seating web means are removably secured tosaid seat frame by means of snap fasteners having mating parts and arewrapped around said seat frame at least about one-and-one-half turns sothat the mating parts of said snap fasteners are urged against eachother when a weight is carried by said seating web means.

2. A forwardly cantilevered seating system which comprises:

a substantially horizontal base beam means;

a plurality of transverse floor runners below said base means andconnected thereto;

a plurality of seat frames arranged adjacent to each other on said basemeans each comprising a pair of spaced legs extending upwardly and awayfrom said base means and a central bight portion joining said upwardlyextending legs, defining seat back and arm supports, and projectingrearwardly from said legs;

attachment means securing said legs to said base menas;

seating web means suspended from said central bight portion from each ofsaid seat frames, and together with said seat frames forming saidplurality of seats;

said floor runners extending transversely from the longitudinal axis ofsaid base beam means for a distance sufficient to prevent tilting of theseating system when each seat is sat in; and

an elongated mounting adapter means is provided between each end portionof each of said legs and said base beam means and having lower outboardlongitudinal edges of said adapter means for adjacent seating unitswhich are provided with a chamfer for receiving an accessory base platetherebetween.

3. The cantilevered seating system in accordance with claim 2 wherein anaccessory means is mounted on an accessory base plate and said accessorybase plate is received within said chamfers between adjacent seatingunits. 1

4. A forwardly cantilevered seating unit which comprises a substantiallyhorizontal base beam means having a flat upper surface;

a plurality of transverse floor runners below said horizontal base beammeans and connected thereto;

a pair of elongated adapter means, each having a flat side and anopposed concave side, situated in a spaced relationship relative to eachother and across said base beam means so that said flat side of saidadapter means is contiguous with the flat surface of said base beammeans;

a tubular seat frame mounted on said base beam means and comprising apair of spaced legs extending upwardly and away from said base beammeans and having end portions received in the concavities of saidadapter means and a central bight portion defining seat back and armsupports above said base beam means joining said upwardly extending legsand projecting rearwardly from said legs;

elongated connector insert means having longitudinally-spaced threadedopenings and situated within the end portions of said legs;

attachment means passing from below said base beam means and throughsaid base beam means, through said adapter means, and into the endportions of said legs, and being received in the threaded openings ofsaid connector insert means so as to threadedly engage said connectorinsert means and to secure said seat frame to said base beam means; and

seating web means suspended from said bight portion of said seat frameand together with said seat frame forming a seat;

said floor runners extending transversely from the longitudinal axis ofsaid base beam means for a distance sufficient to prevent tilting of theseating unit when the seat is sat in.

5. The cantilevered seating unit in accordance with claim 4 wherein saidseating web means is of a generally T-shaped configuration, and whereinextremities of said seating web means are removably secured to saidtubular seat frame by means of snap fasteners having mating parts andare wrapped around said tubular seat frame at least about l /zturns sothat the mating parts of said snap fasteners are urged against eachother when a weight is carried by said seating web means.

1. A forwardly cantilevered seating system which comprises asubstantially horizontal base beam means; a plurality of transversefloor runners below said base beam means and connected thereto; a seatframe on said base beam means and comprising a pair of spaced legsextending upwardly and away from said base beam means and a centralbight portion joining said upwardly extending legs, defining seat backand arm supports, and projecting rearwardly from said legs; attachmentmeans securing said legs to said base beam means; and seating web meanssuspended from said central bight portion of said seat frame andtogether with said seat frame forming a seat; said floor runnersextending transversely from the longitudinal axis of said base beammeans for a distance sufficient to prevent tilting of the seating systemwhen the seat is sat in, said seating web means being of a generallyT-shaped configuration, and wherein extremities of said seating webmeans are removably secured to said seat frame by means of snapfasteners having mating parts and are wrapped around said seat frame atleast about one-and-one-half turns so that the mating parts of said snapfasteners are urged against each other when a weighT is carried by saidseating web means.
 2. A forwardly cantilevered seating system whichcomprises: a substantially horizontal base beam means; a plurality oftransverse floor runners below said base means and connected thereto; aplurality of seat frames arranged adjacent to each other on said basemeans each comprising a pair of spaced legs extending upwardly and awayfrom said base means and a central bight portion joining said upwardlyextending legs, defining seat back and arm supports, and projectingrearwardly from said legs; attachment means securing said legs to saidbase menas; seating web means suspended from said central bight portionfrom each of said seat frames, and together with said seat framesforming said plurality of seats; said floor runners extendingtransversely from the longitudinal axis of said base beam means for adistance sufficient to prevent tilting of the seating system when eachseat is sat in; and an elongated mounting adapter means is providedbetween each end portion of each of said legs and said base beam meansand having lower outboard longitudinal edges of said adapter means foradjacent seating units which are provided with a chamfer for receivingan accessory base plate therebetween.
 3. The cantilevered seating systemin accordance with claim 2 wherein an accessory means is mounted on anaccessory base plate and said accessory base plate is received withinsaid chamfers between adjacent seating units.
 4. A forwardlycantilevered seating unit which comprises a substantially horizontalbase beam means having a flat upper surface; a plurality of transversefloor runners below said horizontal base beam means and connectedthereto; a pair of elongated adapter means, each having a flat side andan opposed concave side, situated in a spaced relationship relative toeach other and across said base beam means so that said flat side ofsaid adapter means is contiguous with the flat surface of said base beammeans; a tubular seat frame mounted on said base beam means andcomprising a pair of spaced legs extending upwardly and away from saidbase beam means and having end portions received in the concavities ofsaid adapter means and a central bight portion defining seat back andarm supports above said base beam means joining said upwardly extendinglegs and projecting rearwardly from said legs; elongated connectorinsert means having longitudinally-spaced threaded openings and situatedwithin the end portions of said legs; attachment means passing frombelow said base beam means and through said base beam means, throughsaid adapter means, and into the end portions of said legs, and beingreceived in the threaded openings of said connector insert means so asto threadedly engage said connector insert means and to secure said seatframe to said base beam means; and seating web means suspended from saidbight portion of said seat frame and together with said seat frameforming a seat; said floor runners extending transversely from thelongitudinal axis of said base beam means for a distance sufficient toprevent tilting of the seating unit when the seat is sat in.
 5. Thecantilevered seating unit in accordance with claim 4 wherein saidseating web means is of a generally T-shaped configuration, and whereinextremities of said seating web means are removably secured to saidtubular seat frame by means of snap fasteners having mating parts andare wrapped around said tubular seat frame at least about 1 1/2 turns sothat the mating parts of said snap fasteners are urged against eachother when a weight is carried by said seating web means.